Myka
January 27th, 2008, 12:36 PM
My dog is 9 years old. She has been very afraid of the vet since she had to go to emergency twice in 2003. Poor hound... :sad:
The first experience she got dirt jammed down between her eyeball and her lower eyelid. So we went to the vet to get the dirt out, and have a once over to make sure she was ok. She stood very well for the vet to have her eye flushed out. I held her head in a gentle head lock to make sure she didn't move and injure her eye on the vet's syringe. She didn't struggle, and was very good. I don't think this was the experience that bothered her.
The second experience was only a few months later. Her and her buddy were running and playing, and the other dog cut her off and ran her into a wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow arm impaled her (it was the usual rounded end wooden kind...not something you'd expect to be dangerous!) just ahead of her flank. When I saw it happen I thought she broke her hip at first by the way she was trying to hobble over to me. :eek: When I started to check her out a big gob of coagulated blood spat out of the hole in her side. :eek::eek::eek: So I go racing to the vet (45 minutes away).
Poor hound was in shock by the time we got there, but luckily the vet was already there waiting for us. The vet stuck her finger in the hole with my dog standing to feel around to see if there was internal damage WITH NO ANESTHETIC! :eek: My dog was totally hunched up screaming! This took about 3-5 minutes for her to check it out. My dog didn't scream the whole time, but she did several times. The vet told me she had to do it without anesthetic because the dog's behavior would be imperative to make a good diagnosis. The thought of that scene is making me feel ill just typing it out.
Every vet I've talked to since is absolutely astounded that my dog wasn't under anesthetic when this was happening. My dog eventually did go under anesthetic to get stitched up and have a drain put in. She was then sent home with me. :eek:
You guys must understand though, that where I used to live there were only two vets. One was mostly a cattle vet although he also did horses, dogs, cats, and small animals. The other which I used was the better choice, but still wasn't up to par imo. But I didn't have any other choice. :(
So ever since that horrifying experience my dog is very afraid of vets. She hides her head in my arms just to get her heart and lungs checked. In fact, she hides her head anytime the vet touches her or approaches her (unless he has cookies). She gets lots of treats, and is told she is good, but this fear isn't getting any better. She knows the vet pokes her with needles, and puts Kennel Cough vaccine up her nose (this is an ordeal). The Kennel Cough is the only thing that she behaves poorly for, otherwise she is just scared, but still listens. She is very well trained (I've trained several dogs for their CD).
Any ideas? I think I'm doing all I can for her... :confused:
The first experience she got dirt jammed down between her eyeball and her lower eyelid. So we went to the vet to get the dirt out, and have a once over to make sure she was ok. She stood very well for the vet to have her eye flushed out. I held her head in a gentle head lock to make sure she didn't move and injure her eye on the vet's syringe. She didn't struggle, and was very good. I don't think this was the experience that bothered her.
The second experience was only a few months later. Her and her buddy were running and playing, and the other dog cut her off and ran her into a wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow arm impaled her (it was the usual rounded end wooden kind...not something you'd expect to be dangerous!) just ahead of her flank. When I saw it happen I thought she broke her hip at first by the way she was trying to hobble over to me. :eek: When I started to check her out a big gob of coagulated blood spat out of the hole in her side. :eek::eek::eek: So I go racing to the vet (45 minutes away).
Poor hound was in shock by the time we got there, but luckily the vet was already there waiting for us. The vet stuck her finger in the hole with my dog standing to feel around to see if there was internal damage WITH NO ANESTHETIC! :eek: My dog was totally hunched up screaming! This took about 3-5 minutes for her to check it out. My dog didn't scream the whole time, but she did several times. The vet told me she had to do it without anesthetic because the dog's behavior would be imperative to make a good diagnosis. The thought of that scene is making me feel ill just typing it out.
Every vet I've talked to since is absolutely astounded that my dog wasn't under anesthetic when this was happening. My dog eventually did go under anesthetic to get stitched up and have a drain put in. She was then sent home with me. :eek:
You guys must understand though, that where I used to live there were only two vets. One was mostly a cattle vet although he also did horses, dogs, cats, and small animals. The other which I used was the better choice, but still wasn't up to par imo. But I didn't have any other choice. :(
So ever since that horrifying experience my dog is very afraid of vets. She hides her head in my arms just to get her heart and lungs checked. In fact, she hides her head anytime the vet touches her or approaches her (unless he has cookies). She gets lots of treats, and is told she is good, but this fear isn't getting any better. She knows the vet pokes her with needles, and puts Kennel Cough vaccine up her nose (this is an ordeal). The Kennel Cough is the only thing that she behaves poorly for, otherwise she is just scared, but still listens. She is very well trained (I've trained several dogs for their CD).
Any ideas? I think I'm doing all I can for her... :confused: